They put their right feet, left feet, right arms, left arms, heads, knees, shoulders, elbows, and bottoms in, and they shook them all about, they did the Hokey Pokey and they turned around, and that’s what it was all about as hundreds of participants attempted to set a new record for the biggest Hokey Pokey in Australian history during the 2024 Grafton Jacaranda Festival.

Not even a brief shower of rain could dampen the enthusiasm and determination of 255 men, women, children, (and a couple of dogs), who teamed up for the occasion on November 2 in Grafton’s Market Square, and after some pre Hokey Pokey nerves were danced away during a five-minute warm up as Ike and Tina Turner’s Nutbush City Limits was played over the loudspeakers, it was time to get serious in their quest to write their names in the national record book.

While it was later revealed the Australian record attempt fell short (the current record still stands at 1862 people), participants smiled proudly as they congratulated one another and agreed that their unity was still worthy of a place in the history of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival.

Among those who attempted to set a new record for the biggest Hokey Pokey in Australian history was Grafton local and Dougherty Villa resident Miriam Collison, 99, who told the Clarence Valley Independent she felt proud of herself, and her fellow Hokey Pokey dancers, for having a go.

“That’s what its all about really,” she said with a smile.

“It’s about having fun.”

This article appeared in the  Clarence Valley Independent, 6 November 2024.